Device for lifting valves and manhole covers



Och 1933- .1. J. MOYLAN 33,384

DEVICE FOR LIFTING VALVES AND MANHOLE COVERS Filed Dec. 15, 1932 IEiIQ- Joseph J? .Moyian,

ATTORNEY,

Patented Oct. 31, 1933 v UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE DEVICE FOR LIFTING VALVES AND HOLE COVERS Joseph J. Moylan, Kansas'City, Mo.

Application December 15, 1932 Serial No. 647,423

2 Claims. (01. 294-47) Fig. 2 is a combined side elevation and vertical sectionalview of the device in position preparatory to lifting thecover from the opening. Fig. 3 shows the deviceafter it has lifted the cover from the opening.

Referring in detail to the different parts, 2 designates a pick-like structure comprising a handle 4 and a transverse head 6, which latter has an enlargement 8 intermediate its ends for the reception of one end of the handle 4. The head 6 includes an element 10 which is reduced and slightly bent rearwardly at its lower end to provide a jaw 12. l

14 designates a member having a bifurcated end 15 operably connected to the element 10 by suitable means such as a bolt or-pivot l6.- The member 14 extends forwardly beneath the bandle 4 and is provided at itsforward end with a downturned jaw. 18. The element 10 and the bifurcated end 15 of the member 14 havea plurality of holes 20 and 22, respectively, for the reception of the pivot 16, so that said member 14 may be adjusted upward or downward, or forward or backward upon the element 10 to accommodate covers of diiierentsizes.

A, designates a 'cover such as is employed in closing the opening a leading to the valves of municipal water mains, not shown. The top of the cover A is provided with a circumferential flange 3 having notches C which are usually spaced at an angle of ninety degrees from each other. A rather deep flange D depends from the top of the cover A to prevent the latter from becoming displaced in the top of the opening by vehicles running over said cover.

By the'use of mydevice verticallifting of the Usually a tubular member E lines the opening leading to the valve to prevent the street or roadway from caving in at said opening. The uppermargin of the tubular member E has an annular recess 24 for the reception of the circumferential flange B on the cover A.

In practice, when it is desired to lift the cover A from the opening as shown by Fig. 3, the jaws 12 and 18 are inserted in two diametrically opposednotches C and then caused to firmly grip the cover A by tilting the rear end .of the handle 4 upward slightly. Then by lifting the device 2 vertically the cover A may be raised straight upwardly so that the flange D will clear the interior of the'tubular member E.

From the'foregoing description it is apparent that I have provided a device which is well adapted for the purpose intended, and while I have .shown one form of the invention I reserve all rights to such other forms and modifications thereof as'properly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

7 Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a handle, an element mounted upon the forward end of said handle and having a downwardly extending portion terminating at its lower end in a jaw adapted to beinserted in a marginal notch in a cover, a member operably connectedto the lower portion of said element, said member extending beneath the handle and terminating in a downwardly turned jaw adapted to enter a notch in the. cover disposed diametrically opposite the first-mentioned notch, said jaws being caused to grip and lift the cover when the handle is raised, and means for ad'- justably connecting said member to said element. 7

2. A device of the character described comprising a handle, an element secured to the forward end of said handle and having a downwardly extending portion provided at its lower end with a jaw, a member extending, beneath the handle and provided at one end with a downturned jaw, the element and said member having a plurality of apertures adapted to register with each other, and pivotal means adapted to pass through any of said apertures and operably coninect the member to said element so that the jaws may be caused to grip an article between them a when the rear end of the handle is raised.

JOSEPH J. MOYLAN. 

